Cancer research fundraiser

Hoops for a Cure aims to net $10,000

Players will be doing slam-dunks for dollars at the sixth annual Hoops for a Cure fundraiser at Upper Arlington High School, 1650 Ridgeview Road.

Organizers have set a $10,000 goal this year.

Students at Jones and Hastings middle schools will be "thinking pink" as they urge friends, family and the Upper Arlington community to watch staff members from both schools face off on the basketball court.

Teachers will don crazy costumes for the exhibition game that begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in the main gymnasium at UAHS. Tickets are $8 at the door.

Hastings teacher Kelli Leinbaugh said game proceeds will go to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.

She said Hastings students hope to "pack the house" with pink and black T-shirts and clothing. Jones students will be wearing bright pink.

T-shirts will be sold for $10 at the game. Raffle sales will go on during the game, with a Wii game-player given away as a grand prize.

"Between the third and fourth quarters, there will be a check presentation to a member of the James Cancer Research Center, and at the end of the game, a trophy will be given to the winning school to be displayed until the next Hoops for a Cure basketball game," Leinbaugh said.

Jones won the trophy last year, beating Hastings 60-55.

Leinbaugh said students also will have the opportunity to compete in a three-point shot contest.

"Our goal this year is to raise at least $10,000 through the sale of tickets, T-shirts, concessions and raffles at the game, plus donations from local businesses," she said.

She said statistics show that one out of every three Americans will contract cancer and one out of four will eventually succumb to the disease.

Leinbaugh said funds from the event will go to research to fight cancer and to support cancer patients.

Hoops for a Cure has raised more than $30,000 over the past five years for breast cancer research at the James.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a player warm-up at 7 p.m. and announcement of players at 7:20 p.m.

A student activity is planned for the end of the second quarter, then the shoot-out contest at halftime. The raffle for the Wii will take place at the end of the third quarter.

Leinbaugh is organizing the event for Hastings and Steve Gdovin is organizing the event for Jones.